Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library: Library Bookplate

Friday, August 8, 2008

Library Bookplate

Recently, I was shelving some books and opened one up to find this beautiful bookplate. Just in time for the Olympics, I thought this was a perfect item to post. These plates appear in books purchased in the 1930's and 1940's from the Myrtle L. T. White Fund. It is beautiful and makes me want to look further for others we may have in our older books on the shelves and in the rare cabinets. I'll post any others I locate.

To view other bookplates, see links below.

Bookplate Archive University of Texas at Austin

Stanford University Libraries Bookplate Exhibits

Bookplates on Flickr Brooklyn Museum

National Library of Medicine Bookplates

American Society of Bookplate Collectors and Designers

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Library History

As early as 1874, a group of interested persons formed the Presque Isle Library Association. The members referred to themselves as the Half and Half Club, a group dedicated to social exchanges, mutual improvement, and the establishment of a public library. The club’s name reflected the fact that its officers would consist “half of ladies and half of gentleman, when it can be arranged.”

The early collection of books, formed from donations rotated among many Presque Isle businesses, with the librarian usually drawn from the business that housed the books.

The books were first placed in George Rowell’s drugstore and then moved to the Post Office where Mrs. Luce, the postmaster’s wife, served as librarian. Later Laila Smith’s millinery store held the collection. In 1905 the collection was moved to Holmes Jewelry Store and Mr. Holmes was the librarian.

Presque Isle citizens voted to build a library in 1907, using a $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Fund. Thomas H. Phair purchased a lot from the Dudley heirs for $1,000 on the southeast corner of Second and State Streets, and citizens raised an additional $937.50 for a small adjoining lot. The Presque Isle Library opened on July 1, 1908 with a collection of 2,000 books.

As the city’s population grew, the community needed a larger building and used state funding and a matching donation of $60,000 from Mark Turner, a local businessman. In April of 1967, the newly expanded Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library opened its doors.

Today the library offers a diverse collection of books, magazines, videos/DVDs and programs and events. The library also provides computer and Internet access. To learn more about the library and the services offered just stop in, call, or visit the Website to see a list of events.